WORDS AND ACTIONS [Main Title]

An attempt to interpret the 'Democracy' for which British troops are fighting.

(Opening Titles "The Gas Industry, believing that a public service should concern itself with the problems of the community, has made this film to throw new light on certain aspects of Democracy"). The message is that it is not the paraphernalia (Local Councils etc) that matter, but the "real meaning of Democracy: people themselves taking the initiative." This idea is illustrated by various examples - a street's voluntary fire-watching rota; a woman in hire-purchase repayment problems using the CAB and Law courts; obtaining one's rights (not 'charity') from national and local government - (Reel 2) a voluntary cooperative cooking scheme. Film also illustrates advances made under democracy (eg. modern schooling cf 19th century child labour; Parliamentary reform; votes for women; trade unions) and the theme "a Democracy at war."

35mm